Method and apparatus for cleaning the interior of a channel of a medical instrument

Abstract

A cleaning apparatus ( 1 ) for cleaning the interior surface of a channel of a medical instrument includes an ultrasonic cleaning device having a cleaning catheter ( 2 ) provided with ultrasonic vibrators ( 4, 5 ) for separating undesired matter from the interior surface of the channel ( 12 ) of the medical instrument by ultrasonic vibration; and an ultrasonic oscillator ( 8 ) for operating the ultrasonic vibrators ( 4, 5 ). The cleaning apparatus ( 1 ) further includes a cleaning liquid discharge device ( 13 ) having a cleaning liquid feeding tube ( 10 ) into which the cleaning catheter can be inserted with the ultrasonic vibrators ( 4, 5 ) exposed and which expels a cleaning liquid from a front end thereof; a cleaning liquid storing tank ( 14 ); and a pump ( 16 ) for feeding the cleaning liquid.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning an inside of a channel of a medical instrument, said cleaning apparatus comprising: 
       a cleaning catheter having a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators, of which a first ultrasonic vibrator is provided at a front end of said cleaning catheter and a second ultrasonic vibrator is provided on a peripheral surface of said cleaning catheter; and  
       an ultrasonic oscillator provided at a front end of said cleaning catheter and comprising a vibration direction conversion member that converts a longitudinal vibration into a radial vibration, said ultrasonic oscillator operates said ultrasonic vibrator.  
     
     
       2. A cleaning apparatus for cleaning an inside of a channel of a medical instrument, said cleaning apparatus comprising: 
       an ultrasonic wave cleaning device comprising a cleaning catheter provided with an ultrasonic vibrator for separating a matter from a matter-adhered inner surface of said channel of said medical instrument by an ultrasonic vibration;  
       an ultrasonic oscillator for operating said ultrasonic vibrator; and  
       a cleaning liquid discharge device comprising a cleaning liquid-feeding tube into which said cleaning catheter can be inserted with said ultrasonic vibrator exposed and which jets a cleaning liquid from a front end thereof, a cleaning liquid-storing tank and a pump for feeding said cleaning liquid.  
     
     
       3. A cleaning apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said cleaning liquid-feeding tube has a plurality of ribs extending from an inner surface thereof toward a center thereof to allow an interval between said cleaning liquid-feeding tube and said cleaning catheter to be almost uniform in an entire circumference of said cleaning liquid-feeding tube and said cleaning catheter. 
     
     
       4. A cleaning apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said ultrasonic vibrator is provided at a front end of said cleaning catheter. 
     
     
       5. A cleaning apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said ultrasonic vibrator provided at a front end of said cleaning catheter comprises a vibration direction conversion member that converts a longitudinal vibration into a radial vibration. 
     
     
       6. A cleaning apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said ultrasonic vibrator is provided on a peripheral surface of said cleaning catheter. 
     
     
       7. A cleaning apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said cleaning catheter has a plurality of ultrasonic vibrators, of which a first ultrasonic vibrator is provided at a front end of said cleaning catheter and a second ultrasonic vibrator is provided on a peripheral surface of said cleaning catheter.